Between
1200 and 1535 AD, the Inca population lived in the part of South
America extending from the Equator to the Pacific coast of Chile. The
beginning of the Inca rule started with the conquest of the Moche Culture in
Peru. The Inca were warriors with a strong and a powerful army. Because
of their fierceness and their hierarchical organization, they became
the largest Native American society. The height of their reign in the
15th century came to a brutal end in 1535 when the Spanish
conquistadors took over their territory.
Their cities and fortresses were mostly built on the highlands and on the steep slopes of the Andes Mountains.
The
architecture of the Inca cities still amazes and puzzles most
scientists. Some steps lead up to the top of the cities which consist
of stone houses and religious buildings. The blocks of some of the
stones weigh several tons and are fit together so tightly that not even
a razor blade can fit through them.
The Inca society was arranged by a strict hierarchical structure. There were many different levels with the Sapa, high
priest, and the army commander at the top. Family members were
councilors to the Sapa and even women had authority in the Inca
hierarchy. The Temple Priests, architects and army commanders were
next. The two lowest classes consisted of artisans, army captians,
farmers and herders. Farmers provided most of the subsistence for the
rest of the population, they had to pay tax in the form of gold, which
were distributed to the higher classes.
The
comprehension of how irrigation can benefit agriculture is evident by
the expansion into the highland areas. They developed drainage systems
and canals to expand their crops; potatoes, tomatoes, cotton, and coca
were among the many crops grown by the Inca. Llamas were used for meat
and transportation and there was enough resources available for
everyone... this lead to a rapid growth in population.
Since
population was increasing and the organization of the Inca became
stronger, they needed protection. They built enormous fortresses on
tops of steep mountains that enabled them to see their enemies and to
defend themselves.
One
of the most famous Inca fortresses is located in Cuzco, Sacasahuman
(right), the Inca Empire capital. Even though the Inca never had access
to the wheel, they built a very sophisticated road system to connect
the villages, they were paved with flat stones and barriers to protect
the chasqui (messengers) from falling off the cliffs.
The
highest point in an Inca village was reserved for religious purposes.
This point was the closest to the sun which represented their major
god, Inti, the Sun God. The six major gods of the Inca represent the moon, sun, earth, thunder/lighting, and the sea.
Pachamama is
the earth god, who is the mother of all humans. The Inca had shamans
who believed in animal spirits living on earth. Heaven was depicted by
the condor, the underworld by the anacomda, and the brother who resided
on earth was the puma. The Sun Temple, located in Machu Picchu, Peru,
was a religious calendar that marked the winter and summer solstices.
The
Inca were not only fierce conquerors but they also had a violent
punishment system. If someone stole, murdered, or had sex with a Sapa
wife or a Sun Virgin, they were thrown off a cliff, hands cut off or
eyes cut out, or hung up to starve to death. Prisons were of no use
because punishment usually consisted of death. Recent excavations of
the Inca siteshas re-vealed mummified bodies of the Inca royalty. They
have been preserved by ice on the peaks of the Andes.
The
Incas had an army which consisted of 40,000 people. The Spanish army in
the Americas, which was commanded by Francisco Pizarro, only had about
180 men. How could an Army of only 180 defeat an army of 40,000 men?
There are three main reasons for this:
1. Much of the Incan army died as a result of smallpox, which was carried to them by the Spanish.
2.
The Spanish Conquistadors were able to convince other tribes, already
under Incan rule, to side with them and over through the Incan Empire.
3. The weapons used by Incan warriors, though effective in tribal warfare, were no match for the Spanish arms.
By 1535, the Inca society was compltely overthrown and Pizarro moved the capital from Cuzco to Lima.
message to the Emperor. The message said that his army had won
the war, but that Popoca had died in battle. The Emperor was very sad
when he heard the news, and when Izta heard she could not stop crying.
She refused to go out and did not eat any more. A few days later, she
became ill and she died of sadness.
Popoca was very sad. He took Izta's body and left the town. He
walked a long way until he arrived at some mountains where he ordered
his warriors to build a funeral table with flowers and he put Izta
lying on top. Then he kneeled down to watch over Izta and died of
sadness too.
"You won't get out of this one. The old people are going to eat you and they will give me a piece."
